How Do I Save A Humidor That Has Dried Out?
The humidor is not a goner, but you've got some work to do. If you use a traditional humidification device, find a Tupperware container and place a sponge inside. Fill the container about halfway with distilled water and place it inside the humidor. Close the top of the humidor, and leave alone for a day. Do not wipe down the cedar lining with distilled water, as this could shock the wood and lead to warping, which affects the humidor's seal.
When you return, the water should be gone. Remove the Tupperware. Place a charged humidification device—and if you neglected one for a year, buy a new one—inside, making certain that it is filled, and close the lid. Leave the device in the humidor for three days, keeping the lid closed the entire time. After three days, take a reading of the humidity inside the box, preferably with a digital hygrometer.
You're trying to get the humidity back to 65 percent to 72 percent. If the reading is still too low, refill the device and leave it for another day. If you're at the proper humidity, place your cigars inside and have a happy smoke. Repeat the process until desired results are achieved. If you can't achieve the desired results, your regulator should be checked out or your humidor may not be closing properly. (Be careful not to let the humidor get too moist, which could be just as detrimental to the cigars. If your readings are too high, use some cedar to bring it down.)
Another method is to use Boveda's special humidor seasoning packs that hold 84 percent relative humidity. According to Boveda, you "simply place the correct amount of Boveda seasoning packs inside your humidor (without cigars) and wait 14 days. Then replace the seasoning Boveda with regular Boveda 62 percent to 75 percent relative humidity. Use one packet for every 25 cigars your humidor can hold. For example a 100 count humidor would require four packs."
Now that your humidor is back in working order, it's ready for your cigars. Enjoy, and make sure you keep it humidified, because it's a lot easier to refill the device every few weeks than to go through all this again.
